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Our Research

Small Business Majority uses extensive scientific opinion and economic research to provide small business owners, advocates, policymakers and others with the information and tools they need to navigate through complex small business issues. We commission opinion research on the national and state levels to determine small business owners’ views on a range of topics including taxes, budget and the economy; healthcare; immigration; energy; entrepreneurship; workforce issues; and government accountability. Our research also examines the effect these policies have on small businesses and the economy as a whole.

We use our research findings to communicate the need for strong small business-friendly measures to policymakers, and we educate small business owners and entrepreneurs on how these polices shape their bottom line. We also take our data and build support among those in the small business community for laws that will help small firms grow their business and make them more financially viable in this economy.

It’s no secret that big businesses struggle to find skilled and credentialed employees. But this issue also impacts our nation’s job creators: small businesses. New scientific polling shows small businesses around the country believe lack of education, experience and training is one of biggest challenges they face when it comes to hiring and employment, and they’re willing to act to ensure they have the skilled workers they need to run their businesses.

Historically, small businesses have faced punitive healthcare costs, paying on average 18% more than their large business counterparts. This places an economic burden on small business owners and their employees that has led to distressingly high numbers of uninsured or underinsured workers. New scientific polling shows the rising cost of prescription drugs also are becoming a major concern for our nation’s small business owners.

Colorado small business owners soundly reject efforts to increase the interest rates lenders can charge on certain consumer loans, and the results of a new Small Business Majority poll of state small business owners strongly suggest state legislators who support such increases would pay the price at the election booth. According to the scientific poll, an overwhelming 90% oppose allowing lenders to increase the interest they can charge on a $3,000 consumer loan from 28% a year to 30% a year and allow increases based on inflation for each subsequent year.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes protection of public lands through national monument designation. At the time this report was written, President Obama had designated 17 new national monuments and two monument expansions. This preservation of public lands benefits local economies and small businesses as they attract visitors to these often-rural areas. Monument visitors spend money on entrance fees, lodging, meals, and other retail items from local businesses during their trip—providing an economic boost to local communities.

A scientific opinion poll released by AARP and Small Business Majority shows a strong majority of California small business owners support the creation of a voluntary, portable retirement savings program that would allow employees to more easily save for their financial future. What's more, small business owners believe offering such a program to their employees would give their business a competitive edge.

Scientific opinion polling found the majority of millennials who own a business or would like to start one at some point say student debt and a lack of retirement savings plan are barriers to entrepreneurship.

In every aspect of building a thriving society and economy—from addressing long-term unemployment to providing high quality jobs—American entrepreneurship represents a pathway to success, particularly among young Americans who struggled to get their foot in the door during the Great Recession...

Small businesses make up 99 percent of businesses in the United States and employ about 56 million of the nation’s private sector workers. New scientific polling shows small business hiring of lower-level employees is diverse and varies geographically, but more can be done to increase diversity in the hiring of upper-management employees.

New scientific polling in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and New Mexico shows small business hiring of lower-level employees is diverse, but more can be done to increase diversity in the hiring of upper-management employees. Additionally, some small employers plan to hire or promote in order to increase the diversity of their high-level workforce within the next few years.

Small business owners are doing everything they can to grow their businesses in our slowly-recovering economy. In order to thrive, entrepreneurs need smart policies that help bolster their bottom lines and fuel the consumer demand that underpins economic success. They believe increasing the federal minimum wage will help do this.

Scientific opinion polling shows small business owners support implementing laws that would allow employees to earn paid sick days to use when they or an immediate family member is sick, and the majority also offer a variety of benefits to their employees.